For all photographers these days editing is a large part of the creative process and demands hours of analysing, tweaking, and perfecting. The debate of ‘how much is too much’ is one argued particularly amongst Portrait Photographers and there is even a move for magazines to grade how much the models have been airbrushed so that viewers can judge for themselves how ‘real’ the image is. Most photographers seek to limit the post processing time so that they can spend more time behind the camera but it can’t be ignored that the power of editing tools can bring added drama to a setting and increased artistic licence.
When I discovered the instant fat thinning, wrinkle diminishing, skin smoothing techniques it was hard to resist and even wish that real life could afford such easy age defying interventions. However the no make-up selfies of charity drives and of course the perfectly matured look of celebrities such as Judy Dench show that natural beauty shown in the right light is just as beautiful – more so, given that it is the ‘real’ story.
Just as I wear mascara and other occasional makeup though I see no problem in careful and minimal manipulation in my Portrait Photography. It’s amazing what a very slight increase in contrast to a new mum’s eyes can do to brighten her tired appearance and a little softening to the overall image to create a hazy warm atmosphere. As my goal in the posing stays simple and uncluttered so too is my approach in editing. Keep it simple – forget the airbrushed barbie blanket and renew faith in the ‘real’.
